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Monday, December 30, 2013

Two more days left in 2013...wow. I have mixed feelings as always. I am usually sad about the end of a year but excited about the new. I'm the same this year....maybe a little less sad, and only because of the flood. The worst natural disaster in Canada's history....and we survived it. Throughout it all I tried very hard to put on a positive front...."it is what it is now deal with it" was kind of our motto. When people asked I would say how lucky we felt as so many had it so much worse. That was true....but in private, over time, I would wear down....that positive front would momentarily fade and I would feel sorry...for us and our loss and the rebuilding that lay ahead. And it's true when people would say "it's only things".....but they were our "things"! Maybe our positive front was the reason friends and family from 'home' weren't rushing down to help. I'm sure lives were busy and until you see things firsthand you really don't get the full scope of the devastation. There was disappointment in that.....even just communication or lack thereof, was disheartening. The jokes and jabs "well you moved to HIGH RIVER!" went around and around and at first we smiled and chuckled but then it began to make us mad. Did people not read or watch the news? Did they not care? But it's done...it's in our past and part of 2013. But it sure makes a person realize a few things.....some of which are hard realizations.......
So onto and upward and into 2014. I've decided my word-of-the-year would be "LESS". Less stuff, less weight, less stress, less debt, less procrastination, less worry, less disappointment, less anger....... I will purge, over the course of the year, excess 'things' in our home. I will purge relationships that are a struggle to maintain. I will focus on paying down debt by not purchasing more 'stuff' and being more aware of our finances. (That includes fabric stuff too....YIKES!). I will return to Curves and the meal plan and walking with my neighbor and new friend Deb and making it all a regular part of my day. I have big plans for 2014!!!!!!!!
One thing I would love to do, using the ton of fabric I already own, is a Dear Jane quilt....pieced by hand! I have the book now I need to get started!!!! Wish me luck!!!!! I find it ironic that the blocks are from another Jane exactly 100 years before I was born.

Another thing I'd like to make, with wool felt I already have is a pin cushion. Look at this one I purchased from Kaaren Johnston whose blog is named The Painted Quilt. I had purchased a Christmas one a couple of years ago and marvel at the detail and all the work!!

I already have a book that will guide me.

Big plans as per usual but I'm hoping and planning on a very wonderful 2014!!!!!!! Chin up and move forward!

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Christmas 2013....it's been a good one. Last year we thought about going up north for Christmas this year but after everything we went through this summer, home was where we wanted to be. My dad was here, all our kids are (still) here and it's been nice. S and I were sick with the flu yesterday....I didn't get sick to my stomach but she did the night before. We are both good today! Our oldest, his girlfriend and A went skiing/snowboarding today. Of course yesterday was +10....we had a crazy wind, some snow through the night and today is -16C! But they still went. I have turkey rice soup in the slow cooker, a loaf of bread in the bread machine and two loaves of banana bread in the oven. The sun is shining.....life is good.

My dad made it home today...he left yesterday, scared we were going to get him sick....but stayed overnight in Westlock as the roads up there were bad. We put him to work on Thursday.....he installed the railing going to the basement.

I still have to put the glossy finish on it and the plugs. I'll add it to the to-do list!! LOL!

We've been playing a lot of cards and board games:

It's been fun. I will miss the noise and my sons dogs fluffy hair all over! Hahaha. But we will have it again, another time.

So many people think of a word-of-the-year...something to strive for or think about throughout the new year. I'm thinking about mine although I can't remember what it was last year!!! I'll be sure to write it down and plaster it all over this year and really try to live by it. I think I know what it will be but I'll be sure to post it here when I've decided for sure. :)

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

The day is almost over. It was a good one with family, great food and lots of card playing! We realized we didn't take a family photo last year......so we did one this year. Our family photos are very casual.....our second eldest son hates them!!!!!! So here it is....the tree is the one my dad brought and decorated.

Here's my quilty tree with the tree skirt I made underneath.

The kids are going Boxing Day shopping tomorrow. They are excited....I won't be going! LOL! I'm ready for bed! The girls (18 & 20!!) got us all up at 7 am which isn't early but I stayed up until 1 watching a movie! And it was a busy day.

Friday, December 20, 2013

My Dad has arrived and brought me two Christmas trees. A white one that was my Moms....but it has no lights so we will have to get some. The tree I lost was prelit so I haven't got any lights for it....but we will get some. And the other one was from the Quilt Guild and the tree they donated to the Festival of Trees in my home town. My dad "won" it at the Silent Auction. The ornaments are beautiful......

I read somewhere that you should put your tree on an east wall...this is as close as we can get. It's for good luck or something. Hey, we need all the good luck we can get!! We need a fantastic 2014! I'll do anything necessary. :-)

Tomorrow we are off to Medicine Hat for Amy's hockey game......late night. Ugh. But the girls and I are going for pedicures Sunday afternoon! Ahhhhhh! Can't wait. Relaxation before the craziness!

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Yesterday I had to run up town and thought I'd bring my finished tree skirt to show the gals at the quilt shop since the pattern(free) and templates came from there and I wanted to wish them a Merry Christmas. They are closing after Saturday and reopening Monday January 6th in the old, pre-flood location....which they've expanded as well as renovated! While I was there, the owner Lucie said she wanted to talk to me so we talked.....and she offered me the job!!!!!! Part time and three days a week, for now!!!! I start January 7th!!!!! Yahoo!!!!!!! We also talked about teaching classes.....yikes!!!!!!!! We all know I will not be making any money........she offers a great discount to employees.......but I'll be out of the house, meeting quilters and touching fabric...three whole days a week!!!!!! ***sigh***
Just thought I'd share the great news!!!!!!!

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Wow, 8 days counting today......Christmas Day. My Moms birthday was the 24th. An emotional time of year for many. My friend Kim is going through a tough time. Her father passed away Monday so they are making arrangements for a funeral when most people are making arrangements for a gathering of a different kind. I wish I was there to help if I could. But she has a big family and I'm sure there are more than enough people around. Cancer.....it claims way too many good people.

I did my baking yesterday and was so adamant I wasn't going to eat anything that I got it all into the freezer without taking any pictures!!!!!!! I don't make much.....Ginger cookies, my moms shortbread (which never tastes like hers) and my grandmas butter tarts...again, nothing like my Grandmas. Oh well. Maybe one day I will be more ambitious and make a variety of things. But for now this is more than enough.

Still no tree but I have Christmas around the house:

Even my nails got a bit festive:

And my next door neighbors are definitely festive!

Aren't they fun!!!!

We have a blizzard happening today. Yesterday was beautiful...+7C and today winter is back!! Time to crank some Christmas tunes and get something accomplished! Oh, the finished tree skirt:(why not add another photo to this photo heavy post!?!)

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Yesterday Hubby left for the north first thing in the morning. I had my coffee and stared at my to-do list but felt completely unmotivated! I did a few Christmas cards but needed a couple of stamps for postage to the States so went up to the Postoffice. Near the post offices temporary location is the quilt shops temporary location and I hadn't been in awhile so I popped in the see Mavis and Lucie. I had a great visit and picked up a free pattern and some templates to make a tree skirt. While there Mavis mentioned I should hand in a resume....Lucie was probably going to need someone part time in the new year.....Lucie came out from the back and we all chatted....and I left my phone number! I think I might be working at the shop in the new year and I'm excited about that!!!!!!! They will be back in the old but expanded and totally renovated location downtown! How fun to go to work and fondle fabric all day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A dream job! Now I likely won't bring home much of a pay cheque but I will be out of the house and meeting new people....and fondling fabric!!!! Hahaha!!! LOVE!

So when I got home I chose the fabric I was going to use for the tree skirt and got started. Then my neighbor called and we went for a long walk and I came home and continued until my daughter came home and we went for supper. Once back I kept going. Here's the top done and since this picture (of the tree skirt and our little 3 lb chihuahua) I have the felt pinned to the back:

Our daughters have convinced me to go to the mall with them today but it should be a quick trip and then I will come home and try to finish the tree skirt. We are having a chinook so I'm sure it will be nice and sloppy out there soon!! :)

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Well, we've looked for a tree but have yet to find one we want to spend money on. What is left in stores are not the nicest and aren't on sale enough for me to want to buy. So my dad has a tree that I will put in the basement. Hubby left for up north today and if he has room for it he will bring it back next week. If not Dad will bring it on the 21st! I don't think we've ever had a tree up so late! Oh well.....it doesn't bother me but Amy is wrapping gifts and is complaining there is no tree to put them under! Soon Amy, soon!

I think I am almost done any shopping I had to do. When I went shopping at the mall on Sunday I bought this cute nightlight. The flame flickers when it's on......doesn't give off much for light but it makes me smile.

My poor sewing machine must be feeling neglected as I haven't worked on anything for so long. If I would get some baking done and cleaning done then maybe my reward could be sewing!!!! I had made my dad a quilt for his bed this spring. He didn't want to use it until he bought a new bed...and now he has. He made his own headboard and sent me this picture of everything all set up.

Looks good altogether!!

Wind is blowing but the sun is shining! I think it's warming up.....nice! Off to accomplish something!!!!

Thursday, December 5, 2013

My neighbors belong to the Rotary Club here and they were handing out quilts from The Sewing Room, a quilt shop in Calgary,for flood victims, a week ago. I told her I was given a quilt by Linda from Patchwork Fabrics in Slave Lake already but she said to come and get one for our daughter Amy. Amy had hockey practice that night so I went on her behalf. There were quite a few quilts....of all shapes, sizes and colors! My kids have always complained about the quilts I have made for use on the couch...too small!!!! So I went looking for one big enough for cuddles. And I found one. It's a rag quilt but made without batting. It is made with good quality flannel though so it's not flimsy and it's very cozy.

It's bright and colorful and makes me smile....not only because of the colors but because there was a kind quilter out there willing to make this quilt for us here in High River. There were many many kind quilters!!!!! We can feel the love every time we wrap up in it!!

We went Christmas shopping today in Calgary....I didn't get a whole lot done. As per usual, I found a thing or two for me. This little girl came home to be added to my Jim Shore snowman collection:

She short (like me). :-)

I saw this in a magazine last night...excuse the bad picture, but I thought it was nice.....

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

It seems nothing is done half assed around here. If it's windy, it's very windy. And if we get a blizzard it's a doozie!!!! Yesterday we were hit with a doozie! If we just had snow it would have been lovely....a picture perfect winter day. But the wind was wicked...and cold! This morning our street was snowed in....by a couple of huge drifts that even Hubby with the quad could not remove last night. He did the rest of the street and another neighbor used his snowblower on the sidewalks. By later last night you couldn't tell. Here's Hubby on the quad last night clearing the drift right in front of our driveway.

He really does love doing this!!!!!!! Here's our front yard this morning....you should be able to see a bird feeder on a stand.....but it's buried!!

It's still windy today but no snow so far. I'm waiting for a chinook now to melt it all! hahaha. But today will be a cozy inside day.

Even the cats were checking out the snow!

I have done some decorating. I'm not sure about the mantle......it's different for me and not symmetrical which I was trying to do but my OCD is having a hard time adjusting! Lol. And I have my nativity scene on the old treadle...ignore the light switches!